Horses like Indy are why I created the Equis Teff Natural, and why I treasure my job as an Equine Nutrition Consultant. It took over six years to develop, and during that time my long time friend and coworker, Suzie Glazier, enjoyed her horse Indy. On June 7th at 8pm, just 8 months after the release of Equis Teff Natural, Indy developed a moderate case of laminitis. Because Susie worked at the CHS Northwest store in Purdy, WA, she knew exactly what to feed Indy after the unfortunate episode. Since the event, Indy has been recovering on nothing but 15 lbs per day of Equis Teff Natural (about 1.3% of body weight). When I saw Suzie this week she was happy to report that Indy’s recovery has been progressing quickly!

As described in our article “It Takes a Village”, many key people have contributed to Indy’s recovery. On June 7th (Suzie recalls it well), she recognized the agonizing signs of laminitis after returning home from work. She immediately called her veterinary clinic, Clover Valley Vet, and her farrier. Her farrier was the first on the scene, placing 2″ thick pads under Indy’s front feet to distribute the pressure and make him more comfortable. Six days later, after several other visits, Indy received aluminum shoes with get inserts. The team has done a wonderful job of bringing this sweet Gypsy Vanner cross mare back from crippling lameness.

For more information about using Equis Teff Natural for laminitis recovery, contact Natalie Shaw, BS PAS at Natalie.shaw@chsinc.com or 406-599-7694. For product information, CLICK HERE.

Indy’s neck before the laminitic episode in June 2017. The neck was covered in abnormal fat deposits before the laminitic episode. However, on the Equis Teff Natural, some neck fat has disappeared. Compare to the picture above which is six weeks later.

The farrier, Jeff Sherwin, working his magic six weeks after the initial episode.

Come one, come all to the 1st Annual Equis Science Fair hosted by The Grange is Issaquah, WA on October 21st, 2017. This is an equine education event like you’ve never experienced before! For young equestrians under 25, we are concocting a day of hands-on learning presented by equine professionals from across the country. Instructors include nutritionists, equine veterinarians, and other experts in the fields of equine health and wellness. They have been asked to think-outside the box to create a “no where else” teaching opportunity- no lectures, no PowerPoints- only guts (yes guts), test tubes, and models to help you understand the inner workings of the equus caballus .

Here’s what you need to do. First off, put the date on your calendar. Second, please send this information to the leader of youth equestrian group. We are asking that your organization’s leader sign you up as a group (discounts for groups of 5 or more). Youth equestrian groups may include USPC, OHSET, WASET, 4H/FFA, IEA, WSSH, OFEA, WSHSRA, university or college equestrian teams or vet students and every other organization out there with a youth component. Please understand that this unique educational event is intended for youth equestrians. Accompanying adults must be chaperones of one or more youth under the age of 25. Thank you for understanding.

All proceeds from the 2017 Equis Science Fair will benefit the Washington State Horse Park (WSHP) in Cle Elum, WA bringing them closer to their goal of providing a covered arena. When you click on the link HERE, you’ll be directed to the WSHP website for registration. Please register your individual or group (plus accompanying adults) before September 15th.

On-Line Before September 15th: Individual (under the age of 25): $8

On-Line Before September 15th: Group Rate: $5 per individual when signing up 5 or more members of a qualifying youth equestrian organization

On-Line or At-the-Door: Accompanying Adult $15

At the Door: Individual (under the age of 25): $12

At the Door: Group Rate: $10 per individual when signing up 5 or more members of a qualifying youth equestrian organization

WHO: Horse owners and hay growers interested to learn more about teff hay! If you have a horse at risk for laminitis (i.e. laminitis/founder, insulin resistance, Cushings Syndrome, PSSM, Equine Metabolic Syndrome, ect) this seminar is for you!

If you are a hay grower, looking to expand into this unique niche market, we’ll provide you with resources and the education to produce high quality “low carb” hay.

WHAT: An introduction to the benefits of growing and feeding low carb horse hay or pellets.

What do the forage/feed analyses tell us about carbohydrates?

How do we think about these carbohydrates as they relate to the sugar/starch sensitive diseases.

What is teff? Why is a potentially good feed for horses?

Learn about the changing demographics of the equine population.

Find out why Equis Teff Natural is such a unique tool in the nutrition toolbox.

Please share this information with friends in the SW Oregon area. If you are interested in having this talk a little closer, contact Natalie at 406-599-7694 to schedule.

Laminitis is a crippling and complicated disease. There is nothing “easy” about managing a horse after acute laminitis and the resulting founder, but Rebecca Mandeville has tackled it twice. She has succeeded in part by leaning on her ‘village’ of experts- all working together to bring her equine soul mate, Blue, back to the trails. This article recounts one women’s experience building her post-laminitis team; a talented veterinarian, an accomplished farrier, a passionate nutrition consultant, and a dedicated barn owner.

Rebecca’s Equine Soul Mate, Blue, The Mountain Pleasure Horse

Blue is Rebecca’s first horse. He is a Mountain Pleasure Horse- a gaited breed originally from Appalachia. When she purchased Blue in 2010, she admits that she knew little, but was eager to learn. She did not recognize some of the early signs of insulin resistance such as the persistent white line disease and abnormal fat deposition. When the gelding became lame on pasture the spring of 2012, a veterinarian tested him for IR and Cushings, both which resulted in borderline blood levels. He was restricted from pasture and fed an untested grass hay. By the end of that year he recovered enough to be lightly ridden, but when recounting this time, Rebecca believes he was still sub clinical- continuing to suffer from mild lameness and white line disease. In the spring of 2014, after a move to the Oregon coast, laminitis struck again resulting in rotation of the coffin bone, also known as founder. It was after this episode that Rebecca went to work educating herself about the feeding and management options for insulin resistant horses. She read about the roles of carbohydrates in equine diets, about how to test for sugars and starches, and about how to soak hay for the removal of some water soluble carbohydrates. Sadly, despite all of her commitment, Blue foundered for a second time in January 2017 while being fed hay that was sold as “low carb”. Not satisfied with her current options, and desperate to get her horse healthy again, Rebecca found the newly released Equis Teff Natural.

“I do not believe it is an over exaggeration to say that Equis Feeds has designed a brilliant product that will no doubt save thousands of horses lives and also make the lives of owners like me so much easier. Knowing Blue could be on your ALFALFA FREE pellets as a complete feed if I cannot soak hay or cannot find good enough quality hay to soak has literally taken a million pound weight off of my shoulders. We have x-rays six weeks apart and he was on your product during that six weeks and we have extraordinary improvement in both hooves. You and your team should feel so great about what you have done and I am so very grateful to you personally as well for contacting me.”

THE VETERINARIAN’S ROLE: Equis Teff Natural was recommended by her veterinarian, Dr. Jacquelyn Beyerlein from Del Oeste Equine in Eugene, OR. Since your veterinarian is usually the first person “on scene” after laminitis, they are often your first source of feed and management options. It’s important to work with a veterinarian that is actively seeking information on new products and new laminitis research as it is in a rapid stage of development. The veterinarian will diagnosis and monitor cases of laminitis or founder by testing the blood for abnormal levels of glucose and insulin, tracking the rotation of the coffin bone with a portable, digital x-ray machine, and providing the pain management tools for these horses. They may also recommend medications that improve blood flow to the hooves and/or supplements that improve insulin sensitivity. A great veterinarian will have recommendations for farriers in the area that are knowledgable and experienced working with these sensitive horses.

The team at Del Oeste Equine is exceptional for all of the reasons listed above. They can be contacted by calling 541-689-0205 or online by clicking HERE.

Dr. Beyerlein comparing x-rays taken in January and again in March.

THE FARRIER’S ROLE: The role of the farrier in post-laminitis situations can not be overstated. It is important that proper hoof care be immediately administrated for pain relief. Foundered horses may require a shorter period between farrier visits to improve long-term positive results. Blue is on a six week rotation. If the veterinarian does not have a farrier recommendation, you may also try sourcing a reputable farrier through your state or region’s farrier associations (Click here for Oregon’s Farrier Association link). Working together, the farrier and the veterinarian are a powerful duo; examining x-rays and determining the best course of action for immediate and long-term hoof care! Rebecca laughs as she recounts speaking to Mike Waldorf for the first time. “I wouldn’t let him say NO,” she says. “Mike the Farrier agreed to drive to the coast to help me.” Mike recommended the Soft Ride boots with gel inserts to improve Blue’s comfort and support.

THE NUTRITION CONSULTANT’S ROLE: As an equine nutrition consultant, it is my job to compliment the veterinarian and the farrier by determining the best feed program based on nutritional priorities, availability, management preferences, financial constraints, and in-depth knowledge of the huge variety of products on the market. Here are just a few services that a good nutrition consultant can offer you:

Forage testing and translation of the results

Sourcing “low carb” products

Ideas for slow feeders, soaking hay, and other technology on the market (I personally keep a box full of brochures on the many different types of tools for feeding horses.)

Techniques for achieving and managing weight loss (See the Healthy Horse app by University of Minnesota)

Balancing the diet for energy, protein, vitamins and minerals which is necessary for optimal healing. This is especially critical when feeding the lower energy, lower carbohydrate forages necessary for weight loss and hormone balance.

Optimizing the diet with nutraceuticals

Direct you towards a feed store with knowledgable employees and good pricing

Rebecca was able to source the Equis Teff Natural through The Farm Store in Veneta, Oregon. The owner, Travis Soverns, was very helpful and offered a tonnage discount for purchasing 40 bags (1 pallet). “Travis had the foresight to stock your product early on,” said Rebecca. “Without him, it would have been very tough for me to get Equis Teff Natural.” Visit The Farm Store online by clicking HERE.

The hay soaking station!

THE BARN MANAGER’S ROLE: I will state again…managing horses with laminitis and founder is NOT easy! The additional time and worry can be a major source of stress and anxiety for horse owners suffering right along with their equids. That’s why Rebecca is extremely grateful for the team of people at her boarding facility in Florence- C&M Stables, owned by Jeff Chastain. “Jeff is an important part of the ‘team’ along with the wonderful staff at C&M. He’s made a huge area in the barn to store hay just for me, because the horses are doing so well on it.” Rebecca provides extra bedding for Blue to keep him comfortable and minimizes his stress by placing herd mates within view. With all the feed and management changes necessary to keep Blue comfortable and content, an understanding barn manager is worth their weight in gold!

Many of you reading this article will identify with Rebecca’s passionate pursuit of options (and frustration at the lack of them) for severely IR/laminitic horses. The Equis Teff Natural is the only grass hay based, low carb AND low calorie complete feed on the market. We believe that alfalfa based products are counter productive to most metabolic horses due to the high caloric value of alfalfa hay. You can find an article in the American Farrier’s Journal by Dr. Juliet M Getty, an independent PhD nutritionist, concerning potential disadvantages of alfalfa in the IR horses’ diet. Click HERE to be directed to the article.

“X-rays show that Blue is making fantastic progress and my vet is very hopeful I will be riding him again by my birthday in August if he keeps improving. I am VERY happy. So many people are contributing to Blue’s recovery!”Rebecca Mandeville is an author, licensed therapist, and national life coach (http://chainfreeliving.com) based out of Florence, OR. Equis Feed wants to thank her for her massive contribution to this article!

March 10, 2017 from Dr. Jacquelyn Beyerlein, DVM: “Well I have some good news! Blue’s rotation is improved by about 2-degrees (LF 7.3, RF 5.8) in both feet and his sole depth is adequate in the LF (1cm) and just shy in the RF (0.9cm). So overall we’re on the right track!”

Annabelle, the 13.2 hand mighty Morgan, is our Equis Teff Natural poster child! Approximately 16 years old, she battles chronically with two conditions; Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and heaves (also known as Recurrent Airway Obstruction/RAO). As a morgan or morgan cross, Annabelle’s breed predisposes her to EMS which is a condition encompassing abnormal regional adiposity (cresty neck syndrome aka odd fat deposition), insulin resistance, and laminitis. Heaves further complicates Annabelle’s diet. Heaves is similar to allergic asthma in humans leading to decreased efficiency of the respiratory system and requires careful feed planning and control. Annabelle’s episodes have been severe enough to lead to hospitalization. It was during one such hospitalization, during the summer of 2016, at WSU Veterinary College that Annabelle was introduced to Equis Teff Natural.

Kylie Van Maren, a third year veterinary student at WSU, is Annabelle’s faithful owner. Kylie phoned me in late September 2016 excited to talk about the Equis Teff Natural. She was boarding Annabelle in Pullman where soaking the hay to remove dust and some water soluble carbohydrates wasn’t feasible. Kylie was looking for a forage based (but non-alfalfa), lower calorie pelleted feed that would provide all the nutrients that Annabelle needed without additional supplementation. She was hoping that the Equis Teff Natural with its high fiber content would allow the mare to eat more hours in the day. “It’s doing its job,” says Kylie! “It’s keeping her nice and full, because she often has some pellets left when I come in the afternoon.” Kylie knows as a veterinary student that pelleted diets are often as good or better than hay bales or rounds for horses with allergies. “It’s the pellet version of a hay diet,” she says over the phone. Now, nearly four months on Equis Teff Natural, Annabelle is doing very well. She is fed 6 lb of the pellet two times per day which equates to 1.5% of her body weight. “It’s holding true to the original calculation.”

Their story is nothing short of a Black Beauty tale- and yes, the mare is even black in color. Nearly 8 years ago, Kylie Van Maren serendipitously met her first horse, Annabelle, at a Girl Scout Horse Camp in Kansas City, Missouri. Annabelle had been rescued from an auction along with several other neglected horses and then donated to the horse camp where Kylie had been a volunteer for nearly a decade. Kylie describes the scraggly lot of horses as being divided into two groups- the group that needed work and the group that did not. Annabelle was firmly camped in the “needs work” group with what Kylie describes as a lot of baggage. She had the opportunity to purchase Annabelle from the camp. Later, like any horse girl would, she chose to submit applications to veterinary schools in part for reasons surrounding her horse. Kylie laughs thinking about her ignorant assumptions about Washington state climates! “I assumed that eastern Washington was just like western Washington- wet- and thought the climate would be good for Annabelle’s respiratory condition.” Even still, Kylie was so impressed with WSU’s hospitality during a visit that she moved herself and Annabelle in the summer of 2014.

Eight years into their partnership, Kylie and Annabelle are morphing their knowledge and experience in Natural Horsemanship to Positive Reinforcement Training (PR+). Kylie uses this reward based training to teach Annabelle a whole host of tricks! Their fun goal for the year includes improving their repertoire in between vet school studies. “I want to get Annabelle healthy,” Kylie adds. “We will start her on immunotherapy shots this year.” These customized serum shots may help Annabelle desensitize to her allergens, but Equis Teff Natural will be the majority of her diet.

Equis Feed was happy to find the dynamic duo and they were happy to find us. Kylie purchases Equis Teff Natural from CHS Primeland Feed in Lewiston, ID. For questions regarding Equis Teff Natural, contact us at equisfeed@chsinc.com.

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A Little About Us

Equis Feed is a brand of CHS, Inc., a global cooperative owned by farmers and ranchers. Equis Feeds, however, is formulated and manufactured locally in our Northwest locations of Great Falls, Montana, and Harrisburg and Hermiston, Oregon. Equis Feeds is very proud to bring you smart equine nutrition available at an incredible value.